Destructive Fire

BRANTFORD, C. W., February, 10.

The car shops of the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway were burned yesterday. Loss $20,000; covered by insurance.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 11, 1862, p. 1

James S. Porter

James S. Porter, of Ottumwa, Iowa, was the fifth Major, and was appointed on March 23, 1865, being promoted from Captain of Company D, to which position he had arisen from that of Private in that Company. He was a conscientious, faithful and brave officer, and a thoroughly loveable man. As a company commander he was what is represented by the words "level headed." He shirked no duty and always did it well. And his commanding officer never left his society without feeling that he had learned something in patience, good manners and solid sense. He was a man who knew what his duty was, and did it without questioning. And though no words ever passed his lips which could be called profane, he seemed to rise to the occasion when there was work to do, and other men did the swearing. He was a true soldier and was always ready. He lives at Ewing, Nebraska, and now, as when in service, is beloved by all who know him.

George Pomutz was the first Adjutant. His history is given above.

SOURCE: William W. Belknap, History of the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 39

XXXVIIth Congress -- First Session

WASHINGTON, February 10.

SENATE. – The Vice President presented a communication from a meeting of citizens of North Carolina, held at Hatteras, Jan. 10th, in regard to the rejection of Mr. Foster, their representative, and still insisting on his right to be a representative of the loyal citizens of North Carolina.

Mr. Davis presented a petition from the citizens of Maine, asking Congress to drop the negro question and attend to the business of the country, to sustain the President and Gen. McClellan, and to support the Constitution of the U. S.

Mr. Rice, of Minnesota, offered a resolution that the committee on military affairs be requested in inquire into the expediency of recommending and appropriation to complete the military road from Point Douglas, Minn., to Superior City, Wis.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.

HOUSE. – The House unanimously passed the Senate bill authorizing the issuing of $100,000,000 of Treasury notes.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 11, 1862, p. 1

Gen. Stone Arrested

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 10.

Gen. Stone Passed through this city on the 12 o’clock train last night, in custody, en route for Fort Lafayette.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 11, 1862, p. 1

Obituary of Alonzo Luce

Alonzo Luce was born in Penobscot County, Maine, April 13, 1838 and died at his late residence in Clarke County, Iowa, March 3, 1905 of diabetes with which he had been afflicted a number of years. When a youth he moved west with his parents coming to Illinois in 1854. Here he grew to manhood and was united in marriage to Catherine Finley Miller, December 22, 1864. To them as parents eight children were given, five sons and three daughters. One daughter died in infancy while the seven still living were all present at their father's funeral.

The deceased enlisted in Co. B. 19th Illinois Infantry, serving his country as a brave, valiant soldier till honorably discharged July 9, 1864. After the close of the war he came to Iowa, Clarke County, settling on the farm where he spent the remainder of his life.

Brother Luce professed faith in Christ as his Savior and with his wife went into the Science Hill Baptist church as constituent members. Here he was a quiet peaceable member till the summons came calling him to rest. His life has been a living epistle, known and read of all men. He was an affectionate husband, a kind father, a true soldier, and obliging neighbor, and unfailing friend. He has fought a good fight, finished his course, kept the faith and is expecting the crown.

The funeral occurred on Sunday, March 5, at the Taylor school house and was largely attended. Services being conducted by Rev. F. Edwards of Osceola. Bro. Luce was a member of the Wm. Dufer Post, No. 297, located at Murray and was laid to rest in the Sanders Cemetery under the impressive ritualistic services of this order to await the resurrection of the just at the last day. The companion and her children have the sympathy of a large circle of ardent and kind friends. May the kind father of mercies sustain and comfort them. F. E.

- Published in The Osceola Democrat, Osceola, Iowa, March 9, 1905, page 1

William T. Cunningham

William T. Cunningham was the second Major. He was Captain of Company G, and was appointed Major on the promotion of Major Belknap to the lieutenant-colonelcy on August 1, 1862. He was wounded in the left arm in the battle of Corinth on October 3, 1862, where he behaved with gallantry. He resigned on January 10, 1863, and died on May 28, 1884, at Pittsburgh, Kansas.

SOURCE: William W. Belknap, History of the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 39

3rd Iowa Infantry Position Marker: Shiloh National Military Park

U. S.
3D IOWA INFANTRY
WILLIAMS’ (1ST) BRIG., HURLBUT’S (4TH) DIV.,
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE

THIS TABLET MARKS POSITION HELD BY THE 3D IOWA INFANTRY FROM 2 P.M. TO 3 P.M. APRIL 6, 1862.

From Washington

WASHINGTON, Feb 9.

(Tribune’s Correspondence)

Senator Morrill has prepared a bill fro the immediate emancipation of all slaves in the District of Columbia, and providing for a compensation not to exceed $300 a head on loyal owners. It has not yet been acted upon in committee. There are about 3,000 slaves in the District.

The clergyman who has persistently omitted the prayer for the President from the service read in his church, at Alexandria, has been arrested.

To correct a misapprehension about the interest paying clause in the legal tender bill, Mr. Rice of Mass., desired an amendment that the certificate of the deposit might be funded [on] five years’ seven percent bonds, with semi-annual interest payable in coin. Mr. Stevens consented to the funding, but objected to the words “in coin.” Mr. Spaulding, with his own pen, struck out the words from the amendment. A fair copy was made, but “in coin” was reinstated by the copyist, whoever he was. The amendment was presented and adopted, the friends of the bill being unaware that the words “in coin” were in it. The incongruity and want of principle in paying interest in specie on the seven per cent bonds and in paper on the six percent bonds, and the hostility of the friends of the bill to any specie clause whatever, as certain to depreciate the treasure notes and sent the Government into the street every six months to by $35,000,000 of gold, made a reconsideration inevitable. The who thing was an accident.


(Time’s Dispatch.)

The rebel government has sent word to Mr. Fish. And Bishop Ames, that they would not be admitted into the Confederate States to discharge any mission whatever.


(World’s Dispatch.)

The published fact that Gen. Stone has been removed from the command of a division on the upper Potomac, is corroborated. It is not known who has succeeded him.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.

Dr. Cheever preached another sermon this P. M. in the Hall of the House of Representatives, in favor of emancipation as a war measure.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 11, 1862, p. 1

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONROE, Feb. 9.

Dispatches through rebel sources state that the fight is still progressing at Roanoke Island.

Some of the rebel gun boats had been sunk.


FORT MONROE, February 9.

A flag of truce brought the news that the engagement at Roanoke Island still continued at the date of the last dispatch. At dark last night the fight was still going on. The federals had sunk one or two rebel gun-boats. Some later news had been received at Norfolk, but it was not communicated.

Southern papers received are of no later date than yesterday.

The New Orleans Bulletin of the 28th of January, says that the reported burning of the steamer Calhoun, was incorrect. When she was abandoned her Captain set her on fire, but it appears the Yankees shortly after boarded her, extinguished the fire, and took possession of boat and cargo, which consisted of 5,000 lbs. of powder, 10,000 lbs. of saltpetre, and a quantity of block tin, &c.

Speaking of the capture of Fort Henry, the Richmond Dispatch says:

Though it is much to be regretted by the South, it was a foregone conclusion whenever the enemy should think proper to bring a large force of men and artillery to bear upon it. It was a structure thrown up since the beginning of the war, and was never expected to resist a heavy bombardment or assault from a large force. It also says the destruction of the bridge which crossed the Tennessee river, through productive of some inconvenience, is not a matter of any great detriment to our interests. The road, without the bridge, will still be available for strengthening our lines, through connection, except for mere convenience, being a matter of inferior importance.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 11, 1862, p. 1

George Pomutz

George Pomutz was the Fourth Lieutenant Colonel, and was appointed November 23, 1864. He was an exiled Hungarian who came to America in 1848 and settled in New Buda, Decatur county, Iowa.

He had a military education in the old country and was appointed Adjutant of the Regiment on its formation. As an Office Adjutant he had no superior. Methodical beyond example in his Regimental papers, he kept a descriptive book of the Regiment, giving the service of every officer and man, which is historically accurate and which is surpassed by no Regimental record in the War Department. While Adjutant he was wounded in the thigh at Shiloh where he behaved with gallantry. He afterwards became the Major of the Regiment on the promotion of Colonel Hedrick and the Lieutenant-Colonel on the promotion of the same officer. While Major, he was Provost Marshal on the staff of Major General Blair, commanding the 17th Army Corps. He was mustered out with his Regiment in 1865, and was appointed Consul General at St. Petersburg and Cronstadt, which position he filled with honor and efficiency. Governor Curtin,of Pennsylvania, formerly United States Minister to Russia, bears cheerful witness to his great usefulness in that position. But political changes removed him from this place, and financial troubles coming upon him he died in great poverty at St. Petersburgh, on October 12, 1882. A stone was erected to his memory through the exertions and contributions of Governor Curtin, the officers of the 15th Iowa, and other friends, and the Regiment now makes a yearly contribution towards the care of his grave. His records of this Regiment form his best memorial. And as long as any man of the 15th Iowa lives, the Adjutant will be remembered, and the words will be recalled which he spoke, when expecting death when thrown from his mare, whom the surrounding soldiers denounced, he defended his favorite animal and said: "If I dies, I forgives Mary."

William W. Belknap was first Major, John M. Hedrick the third, and George Pomutz the fourth. Their history is given above.

SOURCE: William W. Belknap, History of the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 38

William Dewey

William Dewey, of Fremont county, Iowa, was the first Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment. He was with the Regiment at the battle of Shiloh, and having been appointed Colonel of the 23d Iowa, resigned to accept the new commission. He died in Missouri during the war.

William W. Belknap was the second and John M. Hedrick the third Lieutenant Colonels. Their history is given above.

SOURCE: William W. Belknap, History of the Fifteenth Regiment, Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry, p. 37

Letter From Col. H. T. Reid

A letter from Col. Reid, received last night, says that he was ordered, immediately on landing, to march to Prentiss’ Division. In marching there they met many disorganized troops, and found much confusion on the field. Soon. Col. Reid received an order from Gen. Grant to join Sherman’s Division. He marched there, and found only one regiment (an Ohio regiment) fighting bravely. The Fifteenth stood by them and fought until they were overwhelmed by superior numbers and compelled to fall back. Col. Reid’s horse was shot, and he was struck in the neck and paralyzed. He fell and was taken up and was being carried off the ground, but in a few minutes he revived, and again mounting a horse held command as long as there were any men left to fight. Lieut. Col. Dewey and Major Belknap both had their horses shot and Belknap was slightly wounded in the shoulder.

The regiment stood their ground along side the Ohio Regiment, exposed to a galling fire for an hour and a quarter, and 17 of the officers were either killed or wounded. Col. Reid speaks highly of his men, who stood up without flinching, though many of them had never before loaded a musket. This is very a different story from the one which the Secesh have been gloating over with diabolical malice. On Monday morning only 430 answered to their names.

Col. Reid’s wound was painful, but he expected to be in the saddle again in a week. Of course the report that he and Lt. Col. Dewey, and Major Belknap were on the way home was a mistake. It does not appear that Lt. Col. Dewey was injured.

Letters received last night state that Major Belknap covered himself with glory, by his gallantry and determined perseverance in rallying his own men and men of another regiment, in moments of confusion, and bringing them into line of battle and fighting like veterans. Three cheers for the Major.

– Published in The Gate City, Keokuk, Iowa, Thursday, April 17, 1862

Gladden's Brigade Positon Marker: Shiloh National Military Park

C. S.
GLADDEN’S (1ST) BRIGADE,
26TH ALA., 25TH ALA., 22D ALA., 21ST ALA., 1ST LA.,
WITHER’S (2D) DIV., BRAGG’S CORPS,
ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI

THIS BRIGADE HAVING ADVANCED ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PEACH ORCHARD WAS ENGAGED HERE FROM ABOUT 3 P.M. TO 5 P.M. APRIL 6, 1862.

Timby’s Revolving Fort

A correspondent, some days ago, called attention through our columns to this remarkable invention, so highly commended by the following article from the Congressional Globe. It is safe to say that there is nothing in the element of defense presenting such unparalleled and concentrated powers as is clearly shown in this engine, which is adapted equally to land and water fortification.

TIMBY’S REVOLVING IRON FORT.

We desire to call general attention to this truly wonderful engine of defense, a working model of which is now on exhibition in the south wing of the Treasury department. It is probably the most formidable, and at the same time the most simple invention of its kind. It consists of an iron or steel tower, made shot and shell proof, mounting and indefinite number of the heaviest guns, so arranged that they can all be brought to bear, once a minute, upon any desired point. A still more important advantage is that every gun can be sighted and discharged with mathematical precision, and without the aid of machinery.

This engine is equally suited for a land or water fortification. In the latter, however, Mr. Timby limits its construction to a single tier of guns. In either case it is so arranged as to attack or defend itself at different points at the same time by a simple use of electricity.

The many admirers of this fearful machine may be interested in knowing that Mr. Timby, its proprietor, is also its real inventor. We have seen a certified copy, signed by the Commissioner of Patents, of specifications filed by Mr. Timby in the Patent Office as early as January 18, 1843, describing a revolving metallic fortification, arranged both for land and water. Since then Mr. Timby informs us that he has continued to construct and experiment up to the time of the completion of the present gigantic revolver, which we believe can hardly fail to effect a complete revolution in coast defences.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 2

The People’s War

A principal reason why foreign writers and foreign politicians have failed to apprehend the real characteristics of the present war in America, and to prophecy correctly touching its issues, is, that they do not understand that the people are waging it. They speak of the government as if it were one of the European sort – a central power, residing in certain men, who possess certain prerogatives. When the government was so weak that fort after fort fell into the hands of the rebels without even an effort at resistance, they thought that the country was, even then, hopelessly ruined. What could a government do which had no army, no navy and no money? Nay, what could a government do which had no power except that which it derived from the people? And what could the people do when they were divided? They gave us over to political perdition, and they will not have it any other way.

The historian of this rebellion will notice this difference between the loyal and the disloyal powers, - that one is purely popular and the other purely political or personal. The rebellion was not a popular movement. It was initiated and perfected by politicians. To carry it into operation, and to carry it on, it has been necessary to resort to all the machinery of terrorism and conscription. The loans have all been forced loans. An irresponsible despotism has used the people simply as its tool for effecting its ambitions purposes. Now this was something that the European presses could understand and measure. This was after their own sort and style, and they did not perceive that their [sic] was to meet and master it. The power of a united people, using the machinery of the government for its purposes in crushing out rebellion, was something that it was not possible for them to appreciate. Their education, habits of thought and ideas of government rendered full appreciation impossible. The consequence is that all their reasoning and all their predictions have been wrong.

The uprising of the American people consequent upon the war opened by the rebels upon the national flag, was, in fact, the revivification of the government, and from that moment to this the people have carried it on. The people have told the government to borrow, and to promise in their name to pay. They have done this in good faith, and without the first thought of ever repudiating. The people have called upon the government to tax them, and the government is only too slow for them in this business. The people on the other side of the water have looked on and seen our government piling up its indebtedness, and confidently predicting that as soon as taxation should touch the people, it would destroy the government or dethrone its policy. But the people absolutely clamor to be taxed. We have never heard one word against it from any lip. On the contrary, we never hear the subject mentioned without impatience to get at its results at the earliest practicable moment.

It is the remark of the English officers who have recently visited our camps upon the Potomac that they have never, in any part of the world, seen so fine an army. Why? Simply because the men who compose it are men of intelligence – men who cam from the people armed with a great patriotic purpose. The armies of the United States are not composed of the off-scouring of great cities, and the poor and the helpless, or the dissipated and the vicious. There are some of all these classes represented in the army without doubt, but the masses are the bone, sinew and intelligence of the nation, who enlisted from a sense of duty, and who fight because they feel upon their own shoulders the responsibilities of the Government. These men understand what they are fighting for. They cannot be defeated. They went voluntarily into the field, their numbers limited only by the necessities of the service, and they will leave it if they leave it alive, to work in some sphere of industry to pay the debts which the war has rendered unavoidable.

So far as the United States are concerned, the war is emphatically a war of the people. The humblest plowman feels the same responsibility that the President does – the same in kind, if not in degree. The President and all the members of the Government were private citizens yesterday, and will again be to-morrow. To-day, they are only the instruments the people use to accomplish their purposes – their necessary executive machinery for carrying on war and providing means. Our neighbors across the water have looked for and predicted mobs, but the mobs will not appear, simply because the Government is the instrument of the people, and the people will not rise against the power which they institute, so long as it obey[s] their wishes. The taxes they are to pay are laid by themselves, and will not be resisted or quarreled with. If this war be carried through successfully, as the people are determined it shall be, it will be such a lesson in self-government as will shake all the old world thrones and theories to their foundations. – Springfield Republican.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 2

The Punishment of Traitors

EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH OF SCHUYLER COLFAX, OF INDIANA, ON THE CONFISCATION BILL.

The Catilines who sat here in the Council Chambers of the Republic, and who, with the oath on their lips and in their hearts to support the Constitution of the United States plotted treason at night – as has been shown by papers recovered at Florida, particularly the letter of Mr. Youlee, describing the proceedings of the midnight conclaves of these men to their confederates in the Southern States – should be punished by the severest penalties of the law, for they have added to their treason perjury, and are doubly condemned before God and man. Never, in any land, have there been more guilty and more deserving of the extremest errors of the law. The murderer takes but a single life, and we call him infamous. – But these men wickedly and willingly plunged a peaceful country into the horrors of a civil war, and inaugurated a regime of assassination and outrage against the Union men in their midst, hanging, plundering, and imprisoning in a manner that throws into the shade the atrocities of the French Revolution. Not content with this they aimed their blows at the life of the Republic itself; and on many a battle-field, in a carnival of blood, they sought not only to destroy the Union itself, but to murder its defenders. Plunging into still darker crimes they have bayoneted the wounded on the field of carnage, buried the dead that fell into their ands with every possible ignominy, and then to gloat their revenge, dug up their lifeless remains from the tomb, where even savages would have allowed them to rest, and converted their skulls into drinking cups – a barbarism that would have disgraced the Visigoths of Alaric, the barbarian, in the dark ages of the past. – The blood of our soldiers cries out against them. Has not forbearance ceased longer to be a virtue? We were told a year ago that lenicy [sic] would probably induce them to return to their allegiance, and to cease this unnatural war; and what has been the result? Let the bloody battle-fields of the conflict answer.

When I return home I shall miss many a familiar face that has looked in past years with the beaming eye of friendship upon me. I shall see those who have come home with constitutions broken down by exposure and wounds and disease, to linger and to die. I shall see women whom I have seen Sabbath after Sabbath leaning on a beloved husband’s arm as they went to the peaceful sanctuary, clothed now in widow’s weeds. I shall see orphans destitute, with no one to train them into paths of usefulness. I shall see the swelling hillock in the grave-yard – where, after life’s fitful fever, we shall be gathered, betokening that there, prematurely cut off by a rifle ball aimed at the life of the Republic, a patriot soldier sleeps. I shall see desolate and hearthstones and anguish and woe on every side. Those of us who come here from Indiana and Illinois know too painfully the sad scenes that will confront us amid the circles of our constituents.

Nor need we ask the cause of all this suffering, the necessity of all these sacrifices? They have been entailed on us as part of the fearful cost of saving our country from destruction. – But what a mountain of guilt must rest upon those who by their efforts to destroy the government and the Union, have rendered these terrible sacrifices necessary.

Why do we hesitate? These men have drawn the sword and thrown away the scabbard. – They did not hesitate in punishing the Union men within their power. They have confiscated their property, and have for a year past, without any of the compunctions that troubles us here. They imprisoned John M. Botts, for silently regaining a lingering love for the union in his desolate home. They hang Union men in East Tennessee for bridge burning, refusing them even the sympathy of a chaplain to console their dying hours. They persecute Brownlow because faithful among the faithless, he refused, almost alone, in his outspoken heroism, to bow the knee to the Baal of their worship. Let us follow his counsel by stripping the leaders of this conspiracy of their possessions, and outlawing them hereafter from the high places of honor and of trust they have heretofore enjoyed.

In no other way can we more effectually be felt throughout all the region where treason rears its blackened crest. The loyal Union men of all these regions will see in this legislation, and in the concurrent advance of our armies toward the Gulf, that we have put our hands to the plow, determined not to look back; that we have resolved that every man who raises his hand against the Union shall be punished; that those who remain loyal to the nation shall be protected; and that the retribution which shall follow the leaders of this rebellion for life, shall be so thorough and severe that no reptile flag of disunion will ever again be reared on the soil of this Republic. And they will at last all realize that the inducement to sympathize with secession (so as to save their property from rebel confiscation and to claim at the same time Union protection) no longer exists; that the time for this misplaced lenity has expired; that the property of the rebels is to be confiscated, and the armies of the republic sustained thereon in the regions which treason requires them to occupy.

Mercy to traitors, it has been well said, is cruelty to loyal men. I would not imitate their crimes or their barbarity, but I would imitate their resolution. The gentleman from Kentucky nearest me (Mr. Grider) told us, a month or two ago, that the rebel army had run off $300,000 worth of slaves of Union men from counties near his residence, and they have confiscated and taken slaves as sweepingly as anything else claimed or held by these men. Their own slaves work on their fortifications, from cannon, behind which our soldiers are mercilessly slain; they perform their camp drudgery, thus increasing the power of their army; they raise the produce that feeds their troops, and the crops on the faith of which their scrip is rendered current. If we wish to break the power of the rebellion let us strike it wherever we can weaken it, and strike it boldly and fearlessly as the justice of our cause fully warrants. And let us if there are but fifty or five hundred loyal men in a State, resolve that they shall be protected by the whole power of the Government, and clothed with all the advantages hereafter that their unfaltering allegiance during these dark hours so richly merits.

None of the confiscation bills before us are ex post facto in their operation. They operate only against those who, having been engaged in this rebellion continue in arms after this long legislative forbearance. I can vote for nearly every one of them, variant as their provisions are. Any of them is preferable to none. The clerk of this House, (Mr. Etheridge,) recently returned from Tennessee, tells us that in an extensive inquiry, he heard of but a single slaveholder of that State who was a private in the rebel army. This is a striking and significant fact. With that single exception, the slaveholders were either in office, civil or military, or at home. I have no doubt that four-fifths of all the slaves held by rebels belong to officers, civil or military under the rebel government. And we cannot longer doubt that there are thousands upon thousands of men who prefer the Union who have been absolutely forced by threats, by terror, by delusions, or by conscription, into the armies of the rebellion.

I am willing, therefore, to go for the bill known as Senator Sherman’s which confiscates the property and discharges the slaves of all the leaders of the rebel government; of all who had ever taken the oath to support the Constitution and had violated it, which would include all postmasters, mail contractors, Congressmen, Governors, members of the State Legislature, judges, &c.; all of who have taken an oath of any office of any kind under the rebel authority; and of all officers of the rebel army and navy. As to our manifest, palpable duty as to all these classes, it seems to me there can be no question. Another provision in his bill I favor strongly which declares that all persons, high and low, officers and privates, who continue in arms against the Union for sixty days after the passage of the act, shall be declared infamous, and shall never hold an office of trust, honor or profit within the United States. This bill cannot be considered extreme. It runs no hazard of injuring any one whose heart is not callous with treason. It gives the privates all the benefit of a doubt as to the willingness of their enlistment. It makes allegiance to the Union the test, not only of protection under the law, but of official advancement hereafter. It prevents the conspirators of this rebellion from returning to occupy seats here. And I cannot see why a majority cannot unite on this bill, if they cannot on any other more stringent and sweeping in its provisions.

But I am not wedded to the details of any bill. I will very cheerfully support Senator Trumbull’s bill, now pending in the Senate. – I plead only for action. Let our legislation respond to the appeal of Brownlow; and let us not by a conflict between bills looking to the same end fail to strike the blow that hundreds of thousands of patriot hearts demand at our hands.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 2

31st Indiana Infantry Monument: Shiloh National Military Park

31ST
REGIMENT
INFANTRY

COMMANDED BY
COLONEL CHARLES CRUFT
3RD BRIGADE – GEN. LAUMAN –
4TH DIVISION – GEN. HURLBUT –
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE

INDIANA

31ST
INFANTRY

COMMANDED BY

COLONEL CHARLES CRUFT
(WOUNDED)

LIEUT. COL. JOHN OSBORN

THIS REGIMENT TOOK THIS POSITION SUNDAY, APRIL 6TH, 1862, AT 8:30 A.M., AND HELD IT AGAINST REPEATED CHARGES OF THE ENEMY UNTIL 2:30 P.M. DURING THIS TIME THE WOODS IN FRONT CAUGHT FIRE AND MANY DEAD AND WOUNDED WERE BURNED. THE REGIMENT WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE LEFT AND WAS ENGAGED EAST OF THE HAMBURG ROAD UNTIL 4 P.M. WHEN IT SLOWLY RETIRED TO THE SUPPORT OF THE SIEGE GUNS.

ON MONDAY, APRIL 7TH, IT WAS ENGAGED DURING THE DAY ON THE RIGHT CENTER OF THE ARMY.

CASULATIES: KILLED 2 OFFICERS AND 19 MEN; WOUNDED 4 OFFICERS AND 110 MEN; MISSING 3 MEN; TOTAL 138.

Parson Brownlow says . . .

. . . that Gen Fremont is the right man in the right place; and that he is the very man whom he wants to follow into East Tennessee to clean out the traitors. On the other hand our valorous contemporary who proposes to carry the war into Africa pronounces Fremont utterly unfit for any command.

– Published in The Gate City, Keokuk, Iowa, Thursday, April 17, 1862

The Battle In New Mexico

FORT UNION, NEW MEXICO,
April 4, 1862

We left Camp Well, February 22d, en route for Santa Fe. We had a fine time, good weather and good health throughout the regiment. – Every thing went smoothly until we got within 150 miles of Fort Union, when we heard that Col. Canby had had a battle with the rebels and was defeated, and that the rebels were marching on Fort Union. We marched 30 miles that day, stopped on Red river, got some supper, unloaded our wagons, and leaving a guard of 100 men to take care of the baggage and beef cattle we jumped into the wagons, and away we went as fast as mule flesh could carry us. We traveled until two o’clock, in the morning, stopped – made some coffee and took a bite, and away we went – traveled all day, came to a Mexican town, stopped and stayed all night – started in the morning before day light, heard that the rebels were in forty-five miles of Fort Union, we lost no time, and at sun down were landed in the Fort. We soon learned that there was not any danger – the men in the Fort got scared and got up this report. We remained in Fort Union until the boys we left back came up. We drew a suit of clothing and exchanged our old guns for new ones. We were beginning to get tired of staying in Ft. Union, when there was an order read on dress parade at night, that we should be ready to march in the morning with a pair of blankets to the man, and just the clothing we had on our backs. So we started with about sixty wagons of grub and ammunition, and four pieces of heavy artillery and four pieces of light. We traveled three days and camped, got news that the enemy were advancing upon us. So Major Chivington, at the head of about 300 men, started to meet them, (by the way, they were some forty miles ahead of the Major.) The enemy had taken their position in a canon [sic], one of the best positions in the world for defence. The Major marched into the canon, found the enemy ready for him, who fired their cannon and musketry, but did little damage, the shots going over their heads. So the Major ordered his boys to make a bold charge – no sooner said than done – the rebels saw the boys coming with blood in their eyes, got frightened, took to their heels and away they went, leaving their dead and wounded on the field – it is not known how many they lost, but it is supposed about seventy. Our loss was four. The Major gathered up all the guns they left behind, and broke them over the rocks. The rebels sent a flag of truce. The Major sent a dispatch to us, and retreated about eight miles, and took his stand. You can bet we were not long in getting ready. We marched all night, came to the Major’s camp before sun up, eat some breakfast, got ready and started to meet the devils. They had advanced on us, and taken their position, at a place called Pigeon’s Ranch, right in a canon, covered with trees and bushes; it so happened that my Company (or the company I belong to,) were detailed to support one of the batteries, and we had to march in rear of the battalion. We had not gone far before we could hear the booming of the cannon, and well knew the fun had commenced. My captain, (Wilder,) came riding up, and we took a double quick, and soon came to the scene of action – one of our batteries had taken its stand. As we came up to our battery, the bullets from the enemy whistled all around us, and one of our boys fell, shout through both legs. – We took our stand behind our artillery, which we were ordered to support. We laid down on our bellies, and the rebels would shoot over us every time. We could not see the enemy, the bushes were so thick – the devils undertook to flank around us, and come in and get our guns, so our Captain was ordered to take the first platoon of his men and go upon the hill and cut them off. I went with him. We took our stand upon the rocks, where we had a good chance to give them the contents of our guns. We were within 200 feet of them, and when they would stick their heads over the rock we would give them h—l. We lost one man at the rock, but he was not killed instantly, and two wounded, and on the side of the rock where the rebels were there were fifty killed and a great many wounded. It put me in mind of hunting squirrels. While we were peppering it to them at the rock, the other boys were giving it to them down in the canon. The devils made a charge on our battery, but our boys who remained back with the battery, made a rush at them and they run. There was a continued roar of cannon intermingled with musketry, when they made a rush at our battery – our gunners discharged their four guns in amongst them, and it mowed them right and left. After fighting six hours, we discovered about 300 Texans coming over the rock where we were, and our Captain thought it was useless for so few of us to fight hand to had; so he ordered us to retreat, and as we did so, they poured a volley of musketry into us, which wounded one of our boys, but they did not get him; I was by his side and helped him along. When we got down where our battery was, we found our men on the retreat. They retreated a little ways, made a stand and waited for them to come up, but they retreated the other way. So we went to camp, and the rebels sent a flag of truce; they wanted a truce for three days, but our Colonel would not grant it longer than to the next fore noon. The best of the joke was, that, while we were fighting, Maj. Chivington took between three and four hundred men, and went over the mountains, came to where they had left their train of sixty-four wagons of provisions, ammunition, clothing, &c., set fire to them and burnt them to ashes, killed a lot of mules and destroyed two pieces of artillery. The rebels who were guarding the train fired on the Major with both guns, but did no harm, and having accomplished his object, he returned to our camp. The loss of the enemy according to their own account was 400, but we think it was much larger. Our loss, in killed, was 32, and about 60 wounded, and 12 taken prisoners; besides the killed and wounded on the rebel side, we took 103 prisoners. We expected they would attack us again the next day, but as soon as they got their dead buried they left for Santa Fe.

Joseph Cramer is no coward in a fight. He fought bravely.

C. H. FARRAR.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 2

Iowa 2d Regiment

The letter of our correspondent on the second page was written previous to the receipt of the good news by the boys that they were so shortly to take up their line of march for the scene of conflict in Tennessee.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 11, 1862, p. 1